Sam Ovraiti is a colourist from Nigeria, born in Zaria, Nigeria in 1961. He lives and works in Lagos and is Artistic Director of the Harmattan Workshops.
Sam works with a lighter palette, using with great delicacy subtle colours that often “flow one into the other, as reflected in his paintings”.
His deep observance of light and colours on people and his local environment led him to create the African Market Series and the Passion Series. Both subjects are fascinating, highlighting tradition and his local environment, while also celebrating the women of Nigeria and the country itself in all its splendid colour.
Ovraiti has received multiple prestigious awards for excellence, including in 2004 the Guinness Top Three Award for Contemporary Artist in Nigeria. He trained at Auchi Polytechnic and the University of Benin, where he gained a distinction in his Higher National Diploma in painting and a Masters Degree in Fine Art.
In October 2016, Sam was awarded Outstanding Ambassador of the Auchi School at the 7th Auchi Arts Convention. Image credit: Sunrise Lagos Sam Ovraiti Passion Series May-July 2017 / Oil On Canvas / 91.4cm x 60.9cm x 2cm copyright Aabru Art.
